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Spring
Rate - Spring Load - Load Rate
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The most
mis-understood and
the most mis-applied spring terms
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What
you are about to read is the gospel and anyone who says otherwise is a know-it-all
who knows nothing.
(all
disagreements can be sent to Mike
, 3rd generation spring maker with nearly 30 years experience, all ridiculous arguments
will be listened to)
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RATE
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Half the difference between the loads 1-inch above and 1-inch below a
specified position.
Or put an easier way, it is the amount of weight required to deflect a spring
1-inch.
The lower the rate, the softer the spring.
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LOAD
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The amount of weight on the spring.
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LOAD
RATE -
The amount of weight a spring is designed to be supporting at a certain height.
Load Rate and Rate are not interchangeable terms.
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Now
let's put what you just learned to use. |
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A spring which is designed with a free arch of 6-inches and a loaded height of
1.25 inches when
supporting 600 lbs would have a Load Rate of 600 lbs. and a Rate of
126 lbs.
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6 inches free height minus 1.25 inches loaded height = 4.75
inches of deflection
600 lbs. divided
by 4.75 inches of deflection = 126 lb rate
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Learn
more about spring terms on our Leaf Spring Measuring
Page.
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